Commission agents at Azadpur mandi call-off strike

The one-day strike by Commission agents in Azadpur, Asia's biggest wholesale fruits and vegetable market, has been called off following the assurance by Delhi government that it would look into their demands.
Strike call was given by a section of 2,300 commission agents or 'arthiyas' in Azadpur mandi.
They were protesting against the circular issued by the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Azadpur last month, directing commission agents to comply with the Delhi High Court order to scrap 6 per cent commission charged from farmers.
"Strike has been called off last night after a meeting with the state government," APMC member Rajendra Sharma said.

The state government would set up a committee to look into the demand of these agents, he added.
"With one-day strike, there was no impact on prices," Sharma said, adding that the retail vendors might have charged extra from consumers.

Yesterday, only some sections of commission agents dealing with fruits like grapes and kinoo were on strike and their shops remained shut.
About 400 agents especially dealing with fruits were on strike today, while 500 agents and 300 small traders dealing with potatoes, onions, garlic and other vegetables did not take part in the strike.
In a recent judgement, the Delhi High Court had said that arthiyas would be allowed to charge 6 per cent commission, on the value of the produce, from wholesale buyers and not from the farmers.

Farmers from neighbouring states sell their produce at APMC, Azadpur and other mandis across Delhi.